Method and device for opening a receptacle

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for opening a receptacle for transporting value objects includes a suction device for suctioning the receptacle and a severing device for severing the receptacle in a suctioned region of the receptacle. The receptacle can be present in the form of a plastic bag in particular. A method for opening the receptacle then includes the steps of suctioning the receptacle by means of the suction device and of severing the receptacle in a suctioned region of the receptacle by means of the severing device.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for opening areceptacle adapted to transport value objects, for example to transportbanknotes and the like.

Such receptacles are referred to as “safebags” and are usuallyconfigured in the form of completely sealable, bag-shaped disposablecontainers preferably made of a plastic foil. In such receptacles valueobjects, for example banknotes and other sheet-shaped documents ofvalue, but also coins, are transported from a supplier or depositor to abank or a cash center.

The opening of such a receptacle at a receiving unit is currentlyusually carried out manually, for example by means of a pair of scissorsor a knife. After opening the receptacle the documents of valuecontained therein are removed and tested for example by means of avalue-document processing apparatus (for example with regard toauthenticity, condition and/or denomination).

A manual opening of such a receptacle by means of scissors or a knife isnot only time-consuming, but always involves the risk that valuedocuments disposed in the receptacle are damaged upon opening.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to suggest amethod and an apparatus which takes account of the disadvantagesdescribed.

This object is achieved by an apparatus and a method having the featuresof the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and developments arespecified in the dependent claims.

A preferred embodiment of an apparatus for the at least partial openingof a receptacle for transporting value objects includes a suction devicefor suctioning the receptacle and a severing device for severing thereceptacle suctioned by the suction device, in particular for severingthe receptacle in a suctioned region of the receptacle. The suctiondevice preferably includes a suction head and optionally a device forgenerating a negative pressure, i.e. a suction unit, and optionally asuction hose connected to the suction unit, connecting the suction headwith the suction unit. The suction head includes one or several suctionopenings for suctioning the receptacle. The severing device usuallyincludes at least one severing means for severing the receptacle, suchas a blade for cutting open the container.

Preferably, the severing device performs the severing of the suctionedreceptacle only in the suctioned region or between two or severalsuctioned regions of the receptacle, in particular only immediately nextto the suction opening/the suction openings of the suction head. Thesevering device performs the severing of the receptacle preferably onlyin such regions of the receptacle which are removed by maximally 2 cm,particularly preferably by maximally 1 cm, from the suction openings. Bysevering only in the suctioned region or in the immediate vicinity ofthe suctioned region, damage to the receptacle content is avoided alsoin such cases in which the suctioned region of the receptacle can belifted only little from the receptacle content by the suctioning, i.e.when the receptacle's material is relatively inelastic or tightlyfitting or when the suction power is low.

The severing means is not disposed within a suction opening, forexample, but is arranged in spatially separated fashion from the suctionopening(s) in the surface of the suction head facing the receptacle tobe severed. Preferably, the surface of the suction head facing thereceptacle to be severed has at least two suction openings, wherein thesevering means is preferably arranged between these suction openings. Incomparison to a single (larger) suction opening in which the severingmeans is disposed, it is achieved thereby that less suction power isrequired, but the receptacle to be severed is nevertheless reliablysuctioned in the region in which the severing means severs thereceptacle.

As mentioned, such receptacles are provided for the safe transport ofvalue objects and are usually configured in the in the form of plasticbags. The suction device is then adapted to suction at least a portionof a bag wall of the receptacle. The severing device is thenparticularly adapted to sever the bag wall in a suctioned region of thebag wall.

A preferred embodiment of a method for the at least partial opening of areceptacle, in particular a of bag-shaped plastic receptacle, includesthe steps of suctioning the receptacle, in particular of suctioning aportion of a bag wall of a bag-shaped receptacle, by means of a suctiondevice and of severing the receptacle in a suctioned region of thereceptacle by means of a severing device.

When the receptacle is severed, said receptacle can be severed throughcorresponding relative movements between the severing device and thereceptacle, e.g. along an L-shaped or U-shaped cutting line or along oneor several cutting lines extending parallel to the side edges of thereceptacle or along one or several diagonal cutting lines.

In this way, a corresponding receptacle for transporting value objects,in particular documents of value, can be opened quickly and easily. Thesevering device and the suction device are arranged so that thereceptacle, i.e. in particular a receptacle wall of a bag-shapedreceptacle, is suctioned by means of the suction device and the severingof the receptacle is effected in the suctioned region by means of thesevering device. Due to the suction of the receptacle wall in the rangeof action of the severing device any damage to value documents uponopening can be avoided. In addition, the opening of the receptacle isfacilitated per se. It is no longer required to make sure that thecontent of the receptacle is not damaged upon opening, since this willbe prevented quasi automatically due to the operating principle of theapparatus.

Preferably, the severing device is integrated in the suction head, i.e.the apparatus includes a suction severing head. In this way it isachieved that in each case only that (relatively small) region of thereceptacle needs to be suctioned in which the severing device issevering the same. Since the suctioned region—due to being suctioned—isnot in contact with value documents in the receptacle, the valuedocuments cannot be damaged by the severing device.

In particular, the severing device is mounted rotatably about arotational axis in the suction head. The rotational axis of the severingdevice is oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the suction head(that faces the receptacle to be severed). The severing means, inparticular the section of the severing means effective for severing thereceptacle, is preferably arranged outside the rotational axis of thesevering means, in particular outside the center of the severing device.It is thus achieved that, upon severing the receptacle, due to thefriction force between the severing device and the receptacle, thesevering means will rotate on its own to that side of the rotationalaxis in the direction of which the receptacle is moved relative to thesevering device. In this way, the severing means will automaticallyorient itself with its longitudinal direction into the cuttingdirection, without an operator having to pay attention to this.

The severing means, in particular the blade, can protrude from thesurface of the suction head (facing the receptacle to be severed), butit can also be flush with the surface of the suction head. To rule outany risk of injury caused by careless handling, the severing means canalso be arranged in a depression, e.g. in a recess, present in thesurface of the suction head, wherein there are also suction openingsdisposed in this depression. The receptacle to be severed is thensuctioned into this recess and severed by the severing means.

As a safety measure, additionally or alternatively also a (for exampleannular) sleeve can be attached to the surface of the suction headaround the severing means, into which sleeve the severing means can beretracted. The retraction of the sleeve (into a corresponding depressionof the suction head) is effected, for example, against the force of aspring as soon as the suction head is pressed to the receptacle to besevered (or vice versa the receptacle to be severed to the suctionhead).

It can also be provided, however, that the severing device of thesuction head needs to be pushed out from the suction head against theforce of a spring to sever a receptacle. In a suction head to be usedmanually, the suction head can have e.g. a handle button with which theoperator can push out the severing device from the suction head againstthe spring. Upon releasing the handle button, the severing device ispulled back into the suction head due to the spring force.

It can also be provided that the suction head to be used manually isplaced in a quiver protecting the blade side when not in use. The quivercan be provided with a light barrier to detect the presence of thesuction head. Through its presence in the quiver the suction headinterrupts the switch to a suction pump. Upon removal from the quiver,the switch is automatically closed and turns on the suction pump. Afterthe severing of the receptacle, the operator places the suction headback into the quiver, whereby the suction pump is turned off again.

Instead of the suction head to be used manually, however, also one orseveral suction heads can be integrated within a closed housing. In thehousing, a conveying path for the receptacle to be severed can bepresent, along which a receptacle to be severed is conveyed through thehousing by a succession of (for example elastic, rotating) pairs ofrollers. The receptacle can, for example, be guided in the longitudinaldirection along two suction heads permanently mounted between the rollerpairs, so that the receptacle is cut open on one side on both opposinglongitudinal edges. A third suction head can cut open the receptacletransversally to the transport direction (third cutting edge) when thetransport is stopped for a short time. The turning on and off of thesuction pump can again be triggered with the aid of light barriers whichare attached along the conveying path and detect the receptacle. Thecut-open receptacle and the contents leave the housing again. Since inthis embodiment the operator has no access to the severing means, thereis absolutely no risk of injury to the operator.

Further advantages of the method and apparatus result directly from thepreferred embodiments described in the following.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the severing device isarranged in the apparatus so as to be stationary relative to a suctionhead of the suction device.

According to a second preferred embodiment, the severing device and thesuction device of the apparatus can be adapted such that they aredisplaceable relative to each other. The suction device can include, forexample, a suction head which extends along or over a portion of a bagwall of the receptacle for suctioning the receptacle, for example in theform of a frame or the like. The severing device can then be guidedalong the frame, i.e. along the suctioned region of the receptacle, foropening the receptacle. By means of this embodiment it can be optimallysupported to open the receptacle along predetermined severing lines, forexample.

As mentioned above, the severing device can include a severing means inthe form of a cutting apparatus, for example a blade with at least onecutting edge. Alternatively, other mechanical severing means can beprovided, severing means for the thermal severing of a plastic foil,severing means for laser cutting, or corresponding other suitablesevering means.

The severing device having the severing means can be mounted rotatably,e.g. in the suction head. In this way the severing means can always beoriented suitably automatically in the direction contrary to that inwhich the severing means is guided along the receptacle, or in thedirection in which the receptacle is guided along the severing means.

According to a first variant, the apparatus can be configured such thatfor opening the receptacle, the severing device is displaced relative tothe receptacle manually or automatically. In other words, the receptacleremains substantially stationary during the opening, for example lyingon a support, and the severing device is guided along the receptacle,which is opened thereby.

According to a second variant, the apparatus can be configured such thatfor opening the receptacle, the receptacle is displaced relative to thesevering device. The severing device remains substantially stationaryhere. In other words, the receptacle is opened by guiding it along afixed suction severing head of the apparatus, for example.

Generally the receptacle can be suctioned for opening such that thesuctioned region of the receptacle is arranged only immediately in theregion of the severing device. This will usually be the case when theapparatus includes a suction severing head described above. Thereceptacle is thus severed when the severing device is displacedrelative to the receptacle and/or when the receptacle is displacedrelative to the severing device.

Alternatively, the receptacle can also be suctioned in a regionextending in oblong or areal fashion over a surface of the receptacle,for example when the suction head has a frame shape described above. Thesevering device can then be displaced for the severing of the receptaclewithin or along the suctioned region, whereby the receptacle is opened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described hereinafter by way of examplewith reference to the attached drawings. The figures are described asfollows:

FIGS. 1 A and 1B a preferred embodiment of a suction severing head in aperspective view and in a sectioned view;

FIG. 2 an alternative preferred embodiment of an apparatus for opening areceptacle;

FIG. 3 a further preferred embodiment of an apparatus for opening areceptacle, and

FIG. 4 steps of a preferred embodiment of a method for opening areceptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, a suction severing head 100 is shown in aperspective view and in a sectional view. The suction severing head 100can be utilized as an independent apparatus 100 for opening a receptacleof the type described below or as part of such an apparatus 100″ asindicated in FIG. 3.

Receptacles which can be opened by means of the apparatus shown in FIGS.1 to 3 are receptacles that are provided for transporting value objects.Transported value objects herein are in particular sheet-shaped valuedocuments such as banknotes. However, by means of the receptaclesfrequently also coins or the like are transported.

The receptacles, which are called “safebags” are usually present in theform of flat, bag-shaped receptacles. In a plan view of one of the twomain surfaces, the receptacles are generally rectangular. Preferably,these receptacles are made of a plastic foil. The receptacles arecompletely sealed and have, for example, about the size of a largeenvelope, i.e. have side lengths of approximately 20 to 30 cm.Typically, instructions for cutting open the receptacle manually areprinted on the receptacle. The receptacles can have one or severalcodings for unique identification, which can be read out by machine.Suitable codings are, for example, bar codes, transponders readable incontactless fashion or the like.

The suction severing head 100 of FIG. 1 includes a suction head 10 andis connected to a suction unit 70 (cf. FIG. 3) via an indicated suctionhose 20. By such a suction unit 70 air can be suctioned through thesuction openings 40 (as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1B). In thisway, the suction severing head 100, when it is brought close enough to areceptacle to be opened or when a bag to be opened is brought closeenough to the suction severing head 100 (cf. FIG. 3), can suction asurface of the receptacle to be opened, in particular a bag wall of aplastic bag.

The severing device 30 integrally arranged with the suction head 10includes a severing means 50 in the form of a blade. This severing means50 serves to sever the receptacle in the suctioned region, i.e. cut itopen in the example shown. For this purpose, on the one hand the suctionsevering head 100 can be displaced along the bag, for example when thesuction severing head 100 is adapted as an independent, manuallyoperable apparatus to open the receptacle. Alternatively, to open thereceptacle, the receptacle can be guided along a stationary severingdevice 30, for example when the suction severing head 100 is integratedin an apparatus 100′ according to FIG. 3.

The severing device 30 is mounted rotatably about a rotational axis inthe suction severing head 100, as indicated in FIG. 1B. The severingmeans 50, in particular the section of the severing means 50 effectivefor severing the receptacle (thus the tip of the cutting edge), ispreferably arranged outside the rotational axis of the severing device30 (in FIG. 1A offset backward from the center of the severing device30). It is thus achieved that, upon severing the receptacle, due to thefriction force between the severing means 50 and the receptacle, thesevering means 50 will rotate on its own to that side of the rotationalaxis in the direction of which the receptacle is moved relative to thesevering device 30. In this way, the severing means (the blade) 50 willautomatically orient itself with its longitudinal direction into thecutting direction, without an operator having to pay attention to this.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of an apparatus 100′ for openinga receptacle as described above. The apparatus 100′ includes aframe-shaped suction head 110 with a plurality of suction openings 40.The suction openings 40 are distributed over a large portion of theframe, so that a receptacle can be suctioned in this portion. The frameshape can have substantially the dimensions of a surface of a receptacleto be opened. The suction head 110 can include a handle 115 to arrangethe suction head 110 for opening the receptacle on the receptacle to beopened. The receptacle can lie flatly on a support herein, for example atable.

FIG. 2 shows the apparatus 100′ in a top view of the side which rests ona surface of the receptacle upon opening the receptacle.

The frame-shaped suction head 110 can have a slot-shaped through opening118 along which a severing means 50, for example in the form of a blade,can be guided by means of a knob-shaped severing device 30. Thereby, thesuctioned receptacle can be opened along an L-shaped cutting line. It isunderstood that the shape of the frame of the suction head 110 can beconfigured as desired to define respectively suitable cutting lines. Thesevering device 30 can be connected to the suction head 110, but canalso be present as a separate device.

Alternatively, the suction head 110 can be configured without thethrough opening 118. In this case, a suitable separate severing means,for example a knife, can be guided along the frame for opening thereceptacle, while the receptacle is suctioned on a surface by thesuction head 110.

FIG. 3 shows a further preferred embodiment of an apparatus 100″ foropening a receptacle for transporting value documents. The apparatus100″ includes a plate-shaped support 200, in which a suction severinghead 100 in accordance with FIG. 1 is integrated such that the suctionopenings 40 and the severing means 50 are arranged on the surface. Foropening a receptacle, said receptacle now can be guided along thestationary suction severing head 100 in a fashion corresponding to thedesired cutting lines.

The suction severing head 100 is connected via the suction hose 20 shownschematically to an also schematically indicated suction unit 70. Thesuction severing head 100 is integrated in a support of the apparatus,for example. The (for example plate-shaped) support 200 in theembodiment according to FIG. 3 rests on a rectangular cube 300 whichincludes the suction unit 70. The cube 300 can additionally be equippedfor example with rollers or the like, so that the apparatus 100″ canserve as a mobile unit.

According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the support 200 canbe present separately, i.e. without the cube 300. The support can thenbe arranged on a table or the like, for example. The support 200 doesnot need to be plate-shaped, but can also include several planar,oblique and/or curved surfaces.

The apparatus 100″ in FIG. 3 (or the corresponding embodiment withoutthe cube 300) can include additional devices which support a processingof the value documents removed from an opened receptacle.

An example of such a device is a reading device 210 adapted to read outa coding arranged on a receptacle to be opened. The reading means 210can for example be configured as a bar code reader or the reader forreading out a transponder in contactless fashion.

Usually, the opening of such a receptacle is monitored for surveillancepurposes by means of a camera (for example, the camera is integrated inthe support 200 analogously to the reading device 210). A correspondingvideo recording can be started, for example, when the reading device 210has read out a coding of a receptacle to be opened. When the emptying ofa receptacle is completed, the video recording associated with thisemptying process can be ended, for example as soon as the coding of thenext receptacle is scanned. The value documents removed from thereceptacle can then be processed by means of a suitable processingapparatus (not shown), for example checked for authenticity and counted.

The apparatus 100″ can further include appropriate communicationconnectors (not shown), for example a USB or WLAN connector. Thispermits a data communication of the apparatus 100″ with a controlterminal (not shown) and/or the processing apparatus.

Optionally, the apparatus 100″ can include a metal detector (for exampleintegrated in the support 200 analogously to the reading device 210).The operator brings the receptacle, after its emptying, in the vicinityof the metal detector, to check for coins or the like. The metaldetector can quickly and easily detect coins still present in an alreadyopened receptacle. When coins are still disposed in a not yet invertedcorner of the receptacle, this circumstance is pointed out to theoperator by the metal detector, for example by an acoustic or opticalsignal. The receptacle does not need to be inverted at each of itscorners by the operator then. By the metal detector the secure emptyingof the receptacle is thus simplified and accelerated.

In FIG. 4 the substantial steps of a method for opening a receptacle areshown

In step S1, the receptacle is suctioned with the suction head 10, 110.In step S2, the receptacle is severed in the suctioned region by meansof the severing device 30. Here, either the receptacle can be guidedalong a stationary severing device 30 (step S2.1). Alternatively, thesevering device can be displaced along the receptacle, wherein thereceptacle does not need to be moved (step S2.2). Embodiments areconceivable in which both the receptacle and the severing device aredisplaced, i.e. moved, during the opening of the receptacle.

According to conventional opening methods, a rectangular, flat,bag-shaped receptacle is usually cut open along one or several sideedges manually by means of a pair of scissors or a knife, and is thencompletely inverted. These methods are time-consuming and always involvethe risk that value documents arranged in the receptacle are damagedupon opening.

An opening of the receptacle in the described manner of the inventionoffers numerous advantages in contrast.

On the one hand, a receptacle can be opened significantly faster andeasier. According to a first variant, for example, the suction severinghead 10 according to FIG. 1 can be guided as an independent apparatusover a surface of a receptacle to be opened along a freely selectablecutting line. The cutting line can be guided for example diagonallyacross one side or across both sides of the receptacle. Alternatively,the receptacle can be opened along an L-shaped cut along two side edgesof the receptacle. Also a U-shaped cut is possible. All these ways ofsevering the receptacle can be performed without much effort. Aninversion of the receptacle for removing the value documents disposedtherein is facilitated considerably in contrast to the conventionalmethods.

A second and important advantage of the described method is that, uponopening the receptacle, the risk of damaging value documents disposedtherein can be practically eliminated. This is because the receptaclewall is suctioned by the suction head 10, 110 and is thus kept away fromvalue documents present in the receptacle while the receptacle is openedin the suctioned region.

1. An apparatus for opening a receptacle for transporting value objects,comprising: a support forming a first side of the apparatus facing thereceptacle, a suction device including a suction head provided in anopening defined by the support, and a surface of the suction head facingthe receptacle further comprising a severing device; wherein one or moresuction openings are defined by the suction head for generating anegative pressure therethrough; and wherein the suction head isconfigured to remain substantially stationary when the receptacle isguided across the suction head.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the suction device and the severing device are arranged suchthat when a wall of the receptacle is suctioned by the negative pressureof the one or more suction openings the severing device severs the wallwhich is suctioned by the suction device.
 3. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the severing device is arranged in a fixed positionrelative to the suction head of the suction device.
 4. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the severing device is arranged in anopening defined by the suction head.
 5. The apparatus according to claim1, wherein the severing device includes a cutting apparatus projectingfrom the surface of the suction head facing the receptacle.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the severing device is mountedrotatably about a rotational axis arranged perpendicular to the surfaceof the suction head that faces the receptacle; wherein the severingdevice is arranged outside said rotational axis.
 7. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the severing device comprises a thermalsevering device or a laser cutter.
 8. The apparatus according to claim1, wherein the support is planar.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the support includes a plurality of planar, oblique and/orcurved surfaces.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thesupport comprises a plate-shaped support.
 11. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the support is arranged on a table.
 12. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a reading device configured toread out a coding arranged on the receptacle to be opened.
 13. Theapparatus according to claim 12, wherein the reading device comprises abarcode reader or a reader for reading out a transponder in acontactless fashion.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein adistance between each of the one or more suction openings and thesevering device is no more than 2 cm.
 15. A method for opening areceptacle for transporting value objects, comprising the steps of:generating a negative pressure in one or more suction openings of asuction head of a suction device for suctioning a wall of thereceptacle, a surface of the suction head facing the receptaclecomprising a severing device; moving the receptacle along a supportacross the suction device including the suction head and severing thesuctioned wall of the receptacle with the severing device as thereceptacle moves across the suction device; wherein the suction head isconfigured to remain substantially stationary when the receptacle isguided across the suction head.
 16. The method according to claim 15,wherein in the step of severing the suctioned wall of the receptacle,the suctioned wall of the receptacle is not in contact with the valueobjects transported within the receptacle.
 17. The method according toclaim 15, wherein the suction device and the severing device arearranged such that when a wall of the receptacle is suctioned by thenegative pressure of the one or more suction openings the severingdevice severs the wall which is suctioned by the suction device.
 18. Themethod according to claim 15, wherein the receptacle is cut open in thestep of severing the suctioned wall of the receptacle.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 15, wherein in the step of severing the suctionedwall of the receptacle, the receptacle is guided along a freelyselectable severing line over the surface of the suction head facing thereceptacle.
 20. An apparatus for opening a receptacle for transportingvalue objects, comprising: a support forming a first side of theapparatus facing the receptacle, a suction device including a suctionhead provided in an opening defined by the support, and a severingdevice provided in or on a surface of the suction head facing thereceptacle; wherein one or more suction openings are defined by thesuction head for generating a negative pressure therethrough; andwherein the suction head is configured to remain substantiallystationary relative to the support surface when the receptacle is guidedacross the suction head.